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Senior Compliance Manager

Lean Technologies· Business
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Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Lead and own the regulatory compliance function for Lean Technologies KSA, ensuring adherence to SAMA regulations, acting as the primary interface with regulators, and embedding compliance into product development. Role includes holding SAMA-approved Compliance Officer and AML/Financial Crime Officer (MLRO) positions for Lean KSA, managing license applications and compliance programs across KSA operations.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement comprehensive compliance policies and procedures aligned to the Law of Payments and Payment Services and its Implementing Regulations, SAMA’s Open Banking Framework and Counter-Fraud Framework, the Financial Consumer Protection Principles and other applicable KSA regulation, and own the KSA policy set through its annual GLRCC review and approval cycle.
  • Monitor and assess regulatory change across SAMA, SDAIA (data protection), and other relevant authorities, and translate it into clear, actionable guidance for the business.
  • Own the KSA Compliance Annual Plan and the compliance risk assessment, and report progress against them quarterly to the GLRCC and the Board.
  • Lead SAMA supervisory visits and inspections, and compliance audits (external, internal and outsourced), ensuring clear communication, a documented evidence trail and resolution of findings and of commitments made to SAMA.
  • Establish and run a risk-based Compliance Monitoring Program (CMP) and periodic testing programme across all KSA operations.
  • Act as SAMA-approved Compliance Officer and AML / Financial Crime Officer (Money Laundering Reporting Officer): oversee the AML/CFT program, including customer due diligence, sanctions and PEP screening, transaction monitoring and STR decisioning, and report suspicious activity to SAFIU.
  • Own compliance with SAMA’s Counter-Fraud Framework: the quarterly compliance status report to SAMA’s Anti-Fraud Supervision team, the remediation plan, fraud detection, investigation and reporting controls, anti-fraud tooling, and chairing the Counter-Fraud Governance Committee.
  • Own SAMA’s approved-persons process for the company: Fit and Proper submissions, non-objection requests and withdrawals for board members, committee members and senior positions, and the register of SAMA notifications and no-objections.
  • Support the Data Protection Officer (Legal) on data protection and privacy compliance under the PDPL and SDAIA requirements, owning the compliance interface where SAMA obligations touch personal data and working with the cyber team on emerging risks.
  • Provide expert advice to departments across the business on compliance matters, including regulatory review of new products, use cases and client segments before launch.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the KSA regulatory landscape and brief senior management to inform strategic decisions.
  • Manage relationships with SAMA and relevant industry bodies, and stay ahead of upcoming mandates.
  • Lead licence applications, additions of services and SAMA no-objection requests, including the regulatory business plan and pre-commencement conditions for new payment services, and maintain the regulatory correspondence log.
  • Deliver accurate, timely reporting to regulators and senior management on compliance activity: SAMA’s monthly Open Banking reports, quarterly Counter-Fraud Framework returns, SAFIU filings, material-incident notifications within SAMA’s one-hour requirement, and the quarterly Compliance and Financial Crime report to the GLRCC and the Board.
  • Own the Consumer Protection and Complaint Handling framework, including the complaints channel, handling timelines and SAMA complaints reporting.
  • Oversee the compliance aspects of outsourcing and third-party arrangements, including Fourth Party onboarding and ongoing oversight under the Open Banking Framework, and SAMA outsourcing notifications and no-objections.
  • Deliver the compliance and financial crime training programme for staff and the Board, including the Board Annual Training Plan.
  • Manage and develop the KSA Compliance Officer, and build the team as the licence scope expands.

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of compliance experience in financial services, including direct experience inside a SAMA-regulated entity.
  • In-depth knowledge of KSA financial services regulation applicable to fintechs and payment / open banking providers, specifically the Law of Payments and Payment Services and its Implementing Regulations, SAMA rules, the KSA Open Banking Framework, SAMA’s Counter-Fraud Framework and Financial Consumer Protection Principles, AML/CFT law, and PDPL.
  • Demonstrated track record building and running compliance programs and policies from the ground up.
  • Direct experience managing SAMA inspections and audits, and liaising with regulators.
  • Meets SAMA’s Fit and Proper requirements. Appointment is conditional on SAMA’s written non-objection. A current or prior SAMA non-objection for either position is a strong advantage.
  • Relevant compliance certification (for example CAMS) or an equivalent AML / financial crime qualification.
  • Experience preparing licence applications or regulatory business plans, and working with counter-fraud frameworks and anti-fraud tooling, is highly desirable.
  • Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to interpret complex regulations and turn them into workable controls.
  • Clear written and verbal communication in Arabic and English.
  • Ability to work independently and run multiple concurrent regulatory workstreams under commercial pressure.
  • Saudi national (required for AML/CFT function holders under SAMA rules).

Skills

Required:Regulatory compliance program developmentSAMA regulatory knowledgeRegulatory reportingAML/CFT / MLRO responsibilities

Benefits

  • Competitive salaries, private healthcare, and flexible office hours.
  • Equity stake in the business to align long-term incentives.
Last updated Sep 16, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Lean Technologies

Open Banking Platform for Banks and Fintechs in MENA

Lean provides the Data and Payments tools to empower MENA's next generation of financial products | Trusted by Etisalat, Hubpay, Lulu Finance, Binance, Sarwa and more.

Open BankingPaymentsFinancial DataFintechBanking
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